The Federal Government has pledged to revive the long-abandoned Baro River Port in Niger State, with plans for dredging, road and rail infrastructure, and private sector involvement.
Minister of Marine and Blue Economy, Adegboyega Oyetola, made the statement when he appeared before the House of Representatives Ad-Hoc Committee on Stakeholders’ Engagement on the Challenges and Prospects of the Baro River Port.
“Although commissioned in 2019 under the past administration, the port has faced operational constraints — chief among them, the absence of critical road and rail linkages and navigability challenges along the River Niger,” Oyetola said.
He said the current government inherited the project, but limited funding had stalled progress. Plans include capital and continuous dredging of the River Niger, the construction of road and rail connections for cargo movement, and governance systems to attract private sector participation.
According to him, the National Inland Waterways Authority (NIWA) will dredge up to 2,000 kilometres of inland waterways to ensure all-year access.
“Our Ministry remains unwavering in its determination to transform Baro from a dormant facility into a thriving inland gateway,” the minister said. “We are working closely with the Ministries of Works and Transportation to deliver an integrated framework that supports infrastructure, efficiency, and investment.”
Oyetola said Baro’s location could connect agricultural value chains and link other inland ports in Onitsha, Lokoja, and Warri. He said its revival would boost Nigeria’s trade competitiveness under the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) and reduce pressure on highways.
NIWA Managing Director, Bola Oyebamiji, said the port, first built in 1908 by Lord Lugard, was once a route for transporting farm produce and livestock between the North and South. Although now structurally complete, Oyebamiji said its operations remain affected by inadequate dredging and poor transport infrastructure.
He said the project was awarded at ₦3.56 billion, with ₦3.35 billion — 94 per cent of the sum — already paid. Plans are underway to concession the facility to private operators to raise funds and expertise.
Minister of Transportation, Sa’idu Ahmed Alkali, said his ministry is working on a rail line to connect Baro to the national transport grid. He urged lawmakers to increase funding, saying financial constraints are a major challenge.
Chairman of the House Ad-Hoc Committee, Rt. Hon. Saidu Musa Abdullahi, said the panel’s role was not investigative but to ensure the port becomes operational.
He also announced a national stakeholders’ forum to build consensus and mobilise political, technical, and financial support, describing the port’s value as “immense and non-negotiable.”
